Toy crane



July 30, 1940. M. H. STEVENS TOY CRANE Filed March- 5, 1939 Slnmcwfwn MART/N HSTEVENS Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims This invention relates to a toy, and more particularly to a toy crane.

An object of this invention is to provide a crane which may be constructed at a relatively small cost, and which embodies parts which may be manufactured or produced at a relatively small cost, but which at the same time may be made fairly substantial so that the device will withstand fairly rough usage by a child.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy crane of this type which embodies substantially the same features as are embodied in larger cranes, so that the toy will be capable of operation and use in a' manner similar to a relatively large crane, but which embodies features different from a large crane.

A further object of this invention is to provide a crane structure of this kind which is capable of being produced or sold in knock-down condition so that the structure may be assembled by a child.

Embodying the objects aforesaid and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention con sists 'of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention; but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation partly broken away of a toy crane constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation partly broken away of one of the winding drums used with this device.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates generallya base structure comprising a substantially rectangular or square base plate i! having a block l2 secured to the upper surface thereof in substantially the center thereof. The base Iii includes a plurality of foldable and extendible feet l4 constructed in the form of elongated bars which are pivotally secured by means of pivotal members I3 to the corners of the base plate I I. The pivotal members 53 have their lower portions countersunk Within the legs or supporting feet M and when in collapsed position, the supporting members 14 are adapted to be swung inwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 so as to be positioned within the area defined by the base member H.

A vertically disposed mast l extends upwardly from the base It and comprises a standard "5 and a block or lateral extension 'll secured by means of screws or other fastening devices Hi to the lower end terminal portion of one side and flush with the bottom of standard it. A substantially ll-shaped plate 19 is secured as by fastening devices 21 at the lower end of the mast i5 and has one leg thereof extending vertically along the opposite side of the standard It and the other leg thereof extending across the lower ends of the standard and the extension I! as shown in Figure 1.

The mast I5 is swivelly or rotatably connected I with the base It! by means of a. downwardly extending shaft or spindle?! which at its upper end is secured to a substantially 'u-shaped strap or fastening member 22 secured to the lower end of the mast 15 by means of bolts or fastening members 23 connected to the standard It and to the extension I]. The shaft 2'! is provided at the upper end thereof with a bearing race 2 and at the lower end thereof with a reduced portion 25 terminating in a head '23. The shaft 2! is arranged in and extends above and below the base it} axially of the latter; and it is connected to said base by a means to be referred to. The head 25 of shaft 21 is arranged below plate H. r

The plate I! and block 1-2 axially thereof have arranged therein a vertically disposed substantially cylindrical combined retaining and bearing forming member 2! through which the shaft 2 l. The member 21 is formed of an upper portion 21a of uniform diameter and a lower yieldable portion 38 gradually decreasing in diameter to the lower end of said member 27. The portion 36 is of tapered contour and has its lower end flush with the lower face of plate H. The portion 3! is of less length than the portion 27c and corresponds in length and contour to the reduced portion 25 of shaft 2!. The mereher 21, at its upper end, is formed with a laterally extending annular fiange 2B seating on the upper surface of block I2. The flange 28 carries a lower annular bearing ball race 29 coacting with the race 24 for the purpose of rotatably supporting the mast l5 from the base H1. The portion 351 of the member 21 is for the purpose of encompassing the portion 25 of shaft 2E. The lower end of said portion 30 is to abut the upper face of head 26 whereby shaft 2| is connected to the base It. The portion 30, in connection with the flange 28, secures the member 21 to the plate Ii and block H.

A boom 3| is swingably secured as by a hinge structure 32 to the standard Iii of the mast l adjacent the lower end of the standard Hi. The boom 3! is adjusted relative to the mast by means of a flexible adjusting member 33. The flexible member 33 has one end thereof secured as at 34 to the upper end of the standard i 5 and is trained through a sheave 35 secured to the upper end and the upper side of the boom 31. A sheave 36 is secured as by a U-shaped strap 31 to the upper end of the standard i ii and the flexible member 33 is trained through this sheave 36 and then extended downwardly along one side of the standard IS. The flexible member 33 is then wound about a winding drum 38 secured as by fastening members 39 to the aforesaid side of the standard l6. The winding drum 38 is constructed in the form of a reel having a bell crank 4!! providing an operating handle to rotate the drum or reel 38. Preferably, the reel or drum 38 has a ratchet 4! secured to the shaft 42 thereof and a spring pressed pawl 43 is adapted to engage the ratchet 4| so as to hold the reel or drum 38 against rotation and thereby maintain the boom 3! in desired elevated or lowered position.

The boom 3| has a reel 44 secured as by fastening members 45 to the front underside thereof and the drum or reel 44 has a bell crank or operating handle 46 and is otherwise constructed similar to the drum or reel 38. A flexible member in the form of a cord 41 is wound about the drum 46 and is trained through a sheave 48 secured tothe front or under side of and at the outer end of the boom 3i. A sheave 49 is suspended in the cord or flexible member 48 and is provided with a hook 50 to which articles may be attached so that winding or unwinding of the reel 44 will elevate or lower the hook 50. The flexible member 41 has the free end thereof secured to a staple or fastening member 5! which is secured to the under side of the boom 3| adjacent the outer end thereof.

In the use and operation of this toy the device may be easily and quickly assembled by a child, it only being necessary to insert the shaft or spindle 2| in the socket 21. This will position the mast l5 in an upright position and then the hook 50 may be engaged with a suitable article with the boom 3| in a lowermost position. The elevating drum 38 for the boom 3! may then be operated by the handle 40 so as to elevate the forward end of the boom 3| and if desired, at the same time the reel or drum 44 may be operated so as to raise the hook 50. The entire crane structure may then be rotated on the base II] by swinging the boom 3! and partially rotating the mast I5. When this crane is in an operative position, the supporting legs l4 are preferably disposed as shown in Figures 1 and 2 so that a sufliciently large base structure is provided which will prevent the crane from tipping over. This crane may be constructed at a relatively small cost and due to the exceedingly simple construction thereof, the crane may be operated by a small child and may be roughly handled without causing injury thereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a toy crane a horizontally revoluble mast including a standard and a laterally disposed extension secured against the lower end terminal portion of the rear side of said standard, an angle-shaped plate having a horizontal leg secured against the bottom of the standard and extension and a vertical leg secured to the lower terminal portion of the front side of the standard, a U-shaped member having its bight arranged against said horizontal leg and its sides arranged against corresponding opposite sides of the extension and standard, means for securing the sides of said member to the standard, means for securing the sides of said member to the extension, a base having a vertical opening, a bearing secured in said opening and formed with a flange seated on the base and bordering the upper end of the opening, a shaft depending from said bight through said opening and having means correlated with the base to arrest the upward movement of the shaft, an adjustable elevating and lowering boom, means for hinging the lower end of the boom to the standard above the lower end of the latter, and means correlated to the standard and to the boom for elevating and lowering the latter.

2. In a toy crane a mast having a horizontal lower end terminal portion of greater dimensions than its remaining portion, reinforcing means for and secured to the bottom and front of said lower end terminal portion, a U-shaped member positioned against a part of said means and secured to said lower end terminal portion, a base structure, a controllable boom hinged at its inner end to the front of said lower end terminal above said reinforcement, said member and structure having correlated means for revolubly connecting the mast on the base structure, and a controllable lifting structure carried by the front of the boom.

3. In a toy crane a mast having a horizontal lower end terminal portion of greater dimensions than its remaining portion, reinforcing means for and secured to the bottom and front of said lower end terminal portion, a U-shaped member positioned against a part of said means and secured to said lower end terminal portion, a base structure, a controllable boom hinged at its inner end to the front of said lower end terminal above said reinforcement, said member and structure having correlated means for revolubly connecting the mast on the base structure, and a controllable lifting structure carried by the front of the boom, said coacting means including a flanged bearing and a shaft extending through the bearing and having a head abutting a portion of the lower face of the base structure, the said bearing and shaft having tapered lower parts.

MARTIN I-I. STEVENS. 

